For the past three years the Low Vision Support group has met each month at Summerset Retirement Village.
This is a support group for people with low vision, and people who have eye conditions, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, who may in the future be living with reduced sight. Although this community has come together through shared challenges and losses, there have been many highlights. Some of the group has mastered new technology and found solutions which are very helpful.
Blind Low Vision New Zealand are moving away from their physical audio players to Alexa Smart Speakers, and several people now find these devices very useful on a daily basis.
One of our group, Brian Holmes, has had great success with a Reveal 16 electronic magnifier. This is similar to one now set up in the Warkworth Library. It has a moveable table making it very user friendly for reading books, or magazines.
Brian Holmes and Pam Poole
Brian’s main joy with the Magnifier has been his stamp collecting passion. The magnification goes up to 45X and the unit helps him see coloured detail on his stamps.
We meet the 3rd Monday of each month, 1.30pm. Please join us if you or someone in your family is struggling with low vision.
At our next meeting, Monday 19 September, we are visiting the Warkworth Library and will be joined by Sarah Parsons from Bolinda Borrow Box - suppliers of much of the library’s collection of digital audio. Please join us and learn more about how to access the library collection of audiobooks. You are welcome even if you can see well. Bring your smart phone and library card, and Sarah will show us tips to make enjoying audio books easier.
Read more about using Alexa - here is a review from a 97 year old crime fiction fan.